Bridging or Widening the Gap? The Dual Impact of Smart Farming Technologies in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Europe and Iraq

Abstract This chapter examines the global push toward integrating technology in agriculture, as advocated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the current agriculture system and smart farming practices. It argues that while the SDGs promote technological advancements as a universal solution to sustainability and poverty alleviation, this one-size-fits-all approach may favor Western contexts, potentially widening the poverty gap in non-Western settings such as Iraq. The research employs a comparative study approach to analyze the implementation and outcomes of smart farming technologies in Europe and Iraq. It explores how international policies may inadvertently prioritize developed regions over developing ones. This comparative analysis aims to contribute to the discourse on power, politics, and poverty by highlighting how global initiatives can both aid and hinder poverty alleviation efforts depending on sociopolitical and economic contexts.